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Page 55
"God bless me, Maria, what is that, or is it his ghost!"
suddenly and unguardedly exclaimed Mrs. Elmsley, who
had that moment joined her friend--placing her arm at
the same time round her waist.
"What do you mean, Mar--" but before Maria Heywood could
complete her sentence, all power of speech was taken from
her in the emotion with which she regarded what, after
a momentary glance, met her view.
It was her lover, fully equipped for parade, and walking
towards the men with a calm and deliberate step, which
seemed to evince total unconsciousness that any thing
unusual had happened.
"Here is a chair, my love--you really tremble as if the
man was a ghost. Now then, we shall have a scene between
him and our amiable commandant."
"God forbid!" tremulously answered the almost bewildered
girl; "I am the cause of all."
"You! Stuff, Maria. What nonsense you talk, for a sensible
girl. How should you be the cause? but, positively,
Ronayne can never have been away from the Fort."
"Do you think so, Margaret?"
"I am sure of it. Only look at him. He is as spruce as
if he had only just come out of a band-box. But hush,
not a word. There, that's a dear. Lean your head against
my shoulder. Don Bombastes speaks!"
"No sign of Mr. Ronayne yet?" demanded Captain Headley,
his back turned to the slowly advancing officer, whose
proximity not one of the men seemed inclined to announce,
possibly because they feared rebuke for insubordination.
Mr. Elmsley, he pursued to that officer, who, acting on
a significant half-glance from his friend, was silent
also as to his approach. "Let a formal report of his
absence without leave, be made to me immediately after
the parade has been dismissed."
"Nay, sir," said the ensign, in his ordinary voice and
close in the ear of the speaker, "not as having been absent
from duty, I trust. I am not aware that I have ever missed
a guard or a parade yet, without your leave."
At the first sound of his voice, the surprised commandant
had turned quickly round, and there encountered the usual
deferential salute of his subordinate.
"But, Mr. Ronayne, what means this? Where, sir, have you
been? and, if not absent, why thus late? Do you know that
the men have already been paraded, and that when required
for your guard, you were not to be found?"
"The fatigues of the night, Captain Headley," returned
the young officer, with some hesitation of manner; "the
incessant watching--surely there--"
"I knew he had not been out of the Fort. Courage, Maria!
was audible to the men who were nearest to the speaker,
from Elmsley's doorway.
"I know what you would urge, Mr. Ronayne," remarked the
captain; you would offer this in plea for your late
appearance. I make all due allowance in the matter; but,
let me tell you, sir, that an officer who thoroughly
understands his duty, and consults the interests of the
service, would make light of these matters, in cases of
strong emergency."
"Poor Ronayne!" sighed Maria, to her friend. "This is
terrible to his proud spirit. In presence of the whole
of the men, too!"
"I told you, my dear, there would be a row, but never
fear--Elmsley be there. See, he is looking significantly
at us, as if to call our attention to what is passing."
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